UEFA President hails UEFA Europa League

UEFA President Michel Platini is confident the UEFA Europa League will fulfil all the hopes that are being invested in this brand-new European club competition.

'More than just a change of name'
Speaking about the competition and other UEFA activities in his address at the UEFA Europa League group stage draw in Monaco on Friday, Mr Platini said: "A new season and a new competition lie ahead of us. The UEFA Cup has been replaced by the [UEFA] Europa League. And more than just a change of name, we also have a new, clearer, more traditional and more coherent format, and greater centralisation of television rights, which will increase the financial rewards for clubs and make the competition more attractive."

'UEFA answered your requests'
The UEFA President said the clubs had asked for these changes in order to breathe new life into the competition. "UEFA answered your requests," he told the clubs, "and I am certain the [UEFA] Champions League's little sister will be a competition that lives up to the hopes that we, you and all football lovers are placing in it."

Additional assistant referees
The UEFA Europa League will be notable this season for the deployment at matches of two additional assistant referees, on the proposal of the UEFA President and following the approval of the FIFA Executive Committee earlier this year.

Key area
"The idea is simple," said Mr Platini. "Place an additional referee in each penalty area, opposite the assistant referee, in order to see whether or not the ball has crossed the goalline, of course, but also to help the main referee take the right decisions in the penalty area, where matches are won and lost," he added. "The aim of this new system is to reduce the number of errors and increase fairness, while retaining the human face of refereeing."

Financial fair play
Mr Platini also took the opportunity to address club representatives about UEFA's objectives concerning financial fair play. "The idea is therefore to put in place a series of measures over the next few years in order that, in the long run, clubs do not spend more money than they generate," he said. "It is a short and simple phrase, but it will have huge consequences in producing healthy club football that can look forward to a prosperous future.

'Question of integrity'
"These measures will be discussed with [the clubs], but also with the leagues, national associations and players. Financial fair play will not necessarily reduce inequalities. There will still be financially powerful clubs and clubs with limited resources. This is what makes football so popular: the fact the little teams can beat the big ones. May uncertainty reign! However, financial fair play will enable us to introduce greater integrity and fairness in football. Financial fair play is a question of morality, ethics and common sense."